Man sentenced to 20 years in shooting case

Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 3:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 3:27 p.m.

OCALA – A judge on Wednesday sentenced an Ocala man to 20 years in prison for shooting another man following an argument over $5.

Michael Tyrone “Mike Check” Watts, 28, with his attorney Jerry Streeter by his side, told Circuit Judge S. Edwards-Stephens that life was hard for him because of family issues and said the man he shot had a reputation of being a bully and a thief in the neighborhood and he had felt backed into a corner.

Watts told the judge he knew what he did was wrong, and added “I loved the dude.”

He described the incident as a misunderstanding that went the wrong way.

Before announcing the sentence, the judge told Watts he was the only one who could control his actions.

Watts pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder with a firearm involving discharge and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The judge ruled he had credit time served for 221 days. He also will have to pay fines and court costs and submit a DNA sample. He is forbidden to have any contact with the victim or his family.

Assistant State Attorney Nick Camuccio represented the state at the hearing.

Ocala Police Department officials said Watts and the victim, Shedrick Welch, 35, were arguing outside Parkside Garden Apartments last summer because Watts owed Welch $5. The argument escalated and Welch was shot in the arm. Watts briefly walked away and then returned, looked at Welch, then left the area.

The shooting was captured on surveillance video.

In an interview with a Star-Banner reporter after his arrest, Watts said Welch had forcefully taken $375 from his pocket five days before the shooting. He said Welch later confronted him about $5 and the two argued. He admitted shooting Welch, who was unarmed. He said he was afraid of Welch because the man is larger in size than he is.

Welch is presently incarcerated in the Marion County Jail, charged with aggravated battery and attempted strong-arm robbery after police say he tried to wrestle $20 from the hand of a pregnant woman.

<p>OCALA – A judge on Wednesday sentenced an Ocala man to 20 years in prison for shooting another man following an argument over $5.</p><p>Michael Tyrone “Mike Check” Watts, 28, with his attorney Jerry Streeter by his side, told Circuit Judge S. Edwards-Stephens that life was hard for him because of family issues and said the man he shot had a reputation of being a bully and a thief in the neighborhood and he had felt backed into a corner.</p><p>Watts told the judge he knew what he did was wrong, and added “I loved the dude.”</p><p>He described the incident as a misunderstanding that went the wrong way.</p><p>Before announcing the sentence, the judge told Watts he was the only one who could control his actions.</p><p>Watts pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder with a firearm involving discharge and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.</p><p>The judge ruled he had credit time served for 221 days. He also will have to pay fines and court costs and submit a DNA sample. He is forbidden to have any contact with the victim or his family.</p><p>Assistant State Attorney Nick Camuccio represented the state at the hearing.</p><p>Ocala Police Department officials said Watts and the victim, Shedrick Welch, 35, were arguing outside Parkside Garden Apartments last summer because Watts owed Welch $5. The argument escalated and Welch was shot in the arm. Watts briefly walked away and then returned, looked at Welch, then left the area.</p><p>The shooting was captured on surveillance video.</p><p>In an interview with a Star-Banner reporter after his arrest, Watts said Welch had forcefully taken $375 from his pocket five days before the shooting. He said Welch later confronted him about $5 and the two argued. He admitted shooting Welch, who was unarmed. He said he was afraid of Welch because the man is larger in size than he is.</p><p>Welch is presently incarcerated in the Marion County Jail, charged with aggravated battery and attempted strong-arm robbery after police say he tried to wrestle $20 from the hand of a pregnant woman.</p><p>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</p>